Overview

In October 1998 a twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. His bloody, bruised and battered body was not discovered until the next day, and he died several days later in an area hospital. His name was Matthew Shepard, and he was the victim of this assault because he was gay. Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project made six trips to Laramie over the course...

More About
This Book

Overview

In October 1998 a twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. His bloody, bruised and battered body was not discovered until the next day, and he died several days later in an area hospital. His name was Matthew Shepard, and he was the victim of this assault because he was gay. Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project made six trips to Laramie over the course of a year and a half in the aftermath of the beating and during the trial of the two young men accused of killing Shepard. They conducted more than 200 interviews with the people of the town. Some people interviewed were directly connected to the case, and others were citizens of Laramie, and the breadth of their reactions to the crime is fascinating. Kaufman and Tectonic Theater members have constructed a deeply moving theatrical experience from these interviews and their own experiences. is a breathtaking theatrical collage that explores the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable.

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

The act was a savage emblem of hatred: On October 12, 1998, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard was murdered in Laramie, Wyoming, simply because he was gay. Within a month, award-winning playwright Moises Kaufman and nine members of his theater company traveled to Laramie. Their intent was to explore a crime and a town. In the next 18 months, they conducted more than 200 interviews with the people of Laramie. The drama that they created from these encounters is neither accusation nor apology: The 60 Laramie citizens portrayed in the play come alive as individuals residing in a highly charged aftermath.

A.P.

Astonishing. Not since Angels in America has a play attempted so much: nothing less than an examination of the American psyche at the end of the millennium.

New York Magazine

There emerges a mosaic as moving and important as any you will see on the walls of the churches of the world...nothing short of stunning...you will be held in rapt attention.

Time

One of the ten best plays of the year. A pioneering work of theatrical reportage and a powerful stage event.

Publishers Weekly

Moises Kaufman and his Tectonic Theater Project have written a play documenting the aftermath of the savage killing of Matthew Shepard, including the perspectives of both friends and strangers: The Laramie Project. This innovative theatrical composition, structured not in scenes, but in "moments," addresses the various issues relating to the tragedy of Shepard, a young gay man whose murder has since become a symbol for America's struggle against intolerance. Kaufman's approach is actor-based, as opposed to text-based; a side-effect of this actor-based approach is that in print form it seems as though something is missing. However, the play promises to move the reader with its authentic portrayal of a small town facing a terrifying event. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

The savage murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard in October 1998 left deep wounds in the psyche of Laramie, WY, and in that of our entire nation. Soon after Matthew's death, Kaufman and members of his Tectonic Theater Project (also responsible for the highly acclaimed Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde) made a series of visits to Laramie over an 18-month period, conducting hundreds of face-to-face interviews with the town's citizens in order to create this piece. The words and voices of these people, including the college student who first discovered Matthew's broken body, Matthew's friends, teachers, the two young men responsible for his death, and Matthew's father, make this a deeply moving and brutally realistic dramatic experience. This true story of hate, fear, hope, and courage touched and changed many lives and will do so for everyone who reads or watches a performance of this theatrical masterpiece. Highly recommended for all collections. Howard Miller, St. Louis Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Adult/High School-This remarkable play takes the form of a series of juxtaposed monologues, culled from hundreds of interviews that the authors conducted with residents of Laramie, WY, after the fatal beating of Matthew Shepard in 1998. Additional speeches are taken from journals the authors kept while they were involved in this project. From these fragments, a powerful whole is created, giving readers and audiences a full and shimmering picture of a quiet town suddenly thrust into the media spotlight and hastily branded as "backward." Shepard's friends are heard from, as are the friends of his convicted killers. Masterfully woven together to breathtaking effect are statements from Laramie's religious leaders-some of whom condemn the murder, others of whom condemn the victim. A thoughtful and moving theatrical tour de force.-Emily Lloyd, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Your Rating:

Your Recommendations:

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked,
or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to
Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original
and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you
and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not
violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help
ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer.
However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or
to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the
information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reminder:

- By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its
sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the
review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.

- Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly
those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com
also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

Sort by:
Showing
all of
17
Customer Reviews

Anonymous

Posted October 17, 2009

Laramie Project opens hearts and minds

The Tectonic Theater group did us all a favor when it decided to create an artistic record of what happened in Laramie, Wyoming with the murder of Matthew Shepard. Using the townspeople's own words, the troupe wove together every possible perspective and opinion about the difficult-to-discuss topics inherent in this crime, and synthesized the factual collision of hate and love in a memorable, remarkable production. Teaching this play via the HBO film created later is a highpoint of life in my high school sophomore classroom.
As much as I like the film HBO produced, it's important to keep the script handy because of a few key omissions in dialogue; the written work is hard to study alone, but augments the film beautifully. Students respond powerfully to the commentary of the people of Laramie and I challenge them to identify for themselves, privately, who in the town articulates the students' own beliefs. Like the townspeople who lived through the trial of Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, my students grow and learn more about themselves and their beliefs through listening to the stories of ordinary people who meet with extraordinary tragedy.
Whether the conversation turns toward hate crime legislation or religion, human sexual identity or American sociology, this work will touch its audience and stand not only as a record of a moment in our history, but as a template for holding difficult conversations about divisive issues in America.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted August 5, 2014

Abattoir's Biography pt2

Will be posted soon.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

CEB34

Posted June 30, 2012

CLASSIC OF MODERN GAY LITERATURE

This is the riveting story of Matthew Shepard, the young University of Wyoming student who was brutally murdered by two disaffected young men. The drama is fascinating--a series of vignette interviews--with people in the town who give an overall feeling of the small town in which this horrible murder took place. There is open support but also hatred and homophobia disguised as "live and let live." A very important watershed in American literature. Matt's mother went on to become an activist and got federal hate crimes legislation passes. An archetypal American drama.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted January 10, 2012

Life changing

I read this book in drama and acted it out also, i cryed like a baby, every time i would think about this book i would get all choked up, this book showed me the arrogance this country holds and also showed me the humble, and open minded minds. Rest in peace Matt

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted August 7, 2006

heart warming

this book brought tears to my eyes as i read it in school and at home to my father.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted February 29, 2004

Very moving, Teaches you a lot!

I was cast to be in this play and it has truly changed my ways about how I think of hate. Moises and the tectonic theatre did a tremendous job on portraying this town after such a horrendous ordeal that happened.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted September 22, 2003

Such A Great Read

This play is beyond AMAZING. I read it...loved it...cried the whole way through. I carry a copy of this with me at all times, I buy it for my friends. Do not miss reading this brilliant work!

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted June 21, 2003

Truly Amazing

Moises Kaufman and The Tectonic Theatre Project have created one of the best contemporary plays ever. The Laramie Project not only touches the most human of emotions but also educates us about hate and intolerance and how we are affected. The playwrites do this without taking sides or passing judgment. This play is a genuine work of art.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted March 16, 2003

An outstanding novel

I am 18 years old and a lifelong resident of Wyoming. I read this and felt the hurt that was happening just 100 miles away. It is a great novel and I believe that everyone should read this book. I even did an exerpt from it for speech and debate.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.